Telemedicine Introduced to Manacapuru Hospital Lazaro Reis, Brazil

The Amazon Virtual Medical Team continues to visit local hospitals along the Amazon River when ever is possible and introduce the telemedicine concept and different potential projects. This time Dr. Mateja de Leonni Stanonik visited the regional hospital in Manacapuru accompanied by the mayor, Mr. W. Luis Regis da Silva. The hospital serves about 100,000 people, and evaluates up to 300 patients per day.

The Director of the Hospital, Dr. Nazaré Angela P. Ferreira, Gerente Executiva, described the conditions at the hospital in provided patient’s statistics.

The hospital is clean conditions and busy although they lack basic supplies such as blankets and bed sheets.

Despite this, the hospital has undergone major reconstruction in the last two years. They added two wards for obstetrics and gynecology, and restored their Surgical and intensive care facilities. No other surgical procedures are performed at this facility with the exception of the gynecologic and obstetric surgery, and certain life-saving trauma cases performed by the emergency physicians.

The hospital contains an infectious disease center which is specialized for prevention and treatment of malaria and dengue. This is a brand new addition to the hospital, and therefore contains good equipment. The Director confirmed that the Federal Government supplies them well with the necessary medications.

Mr. da Silva explained that his government recently has spent large amounts of resources in attempt to bring specialists to the hospital, such as cardiologist, neurologist, urologist, and orthopedic surgeons. He demonstrated great interest Telemedicine project and in the potential that may offer to his regional hospital. His local government as well as the Director of the Hospital toured the Telemedicine facilities which we set up on board our boat and are extremely interested in working together to set up Telemedicine projects at their hospital.